Action Committee

Action Committee

Fall 2018 Action Committee meetings

The September Action Committee meeting featured a presentation by staff members from the Portland City Budget Office. Shannon Fairchild, Senior Financial Analyst, and Josh Harwood, Chief Economist, explained the budget process and answered the committee’s questions. A full report about this meeting was in the November issue of the Voter newsletter.

The subject of the October Action Committee meeting was Oregon’s Air Quality. Mary Peveto, president of Neighbors for Clean Air, spoke to committee members. An article about this meeting will be in the December issue of the Voter newsletter.

The November 2018 Action Committee meeting will be at the LWVPDX Conference Room at 618 NW Glisan St. on Friday November 16, 2-4 PM. The subject is juvenile justice. All League members are welcome. For more information contact Debbie Aiona at action@lwvpdx.org.

Winter and Spring 2018 Action Committee meetings

The January Action Committee meeting was a presentation and discussion about Prosper Portland, formerly the Portland Development Commission – Portland’s Economic Development agency. A report on this meeting was in our March newsletter.

The February Action Committee meeting featured a discussion about Metro’s Equitable Housing Initiative, with Metro Councilor Sam Chase. For more background information on the topic, refer to the fact sheet here. There was a report on this meeting in our April newsletter.

The March Action Committee meeting was a discussion about Criminal Justice Reform with Kate Gonsalves, political director, Oregon Justice Resource Center. There was a report in our May newsletter.

The April Action Committee meeting featured a discussion about Protecting and Improving Portland’s Water Quality and Environment, with speakers from Portland’s Bureau of Environmental Services:

Recent Testimony

On November 13, 2018, the Portland League sent a memorandum to the City Council about proposed restrictions on the time, place and manner in which demonstrations may be held, when there is concern about violence. The League urged the Council to form a short-term work group to research how other jurisdictions handle violent protests. We recommended that this group consider U.S. and Oregon constitutional and legal issues, explore existing laws and methods that could be used more effectively, and determine whether there is a need for new legislation. You can read the memo here.

On October 1, 2018, the League of Women Voters of Portland sent a memorandum to District Judge Michael Simon, commenting on the City’s updated plan for the Portland Committee on Community-Engaged Policing (PCCEP). As shown below, the Portland League has been following police oversight for many years and, in recent years, we have monitored Portland’s compliance with the U.S. Department of Justice Settlement Agreement with the City. The memo was sent to Judge Simon for his consideration before the Interim Status Conference on the Settlement Agreement. It can be read here.

On April 17, the League of Women Voters of Portland submitted recommendations to District Judge Michael Simon at the Fairness Hearing on amendments to the Department of Justice Settlement Agreement with the City of Portland. Our comments focused on improving transparency and public involvement in police oversight. You can read our testimony here.

On February 15, the League of Women Voters of Portland sent testimony to the Portland City Council about the most recent report of the OIR Group on Portland Police Officer-Involved Shootings. The League has been involved in Police Oversight since the 1980s. Our testimony expressed concerns and offered recommendations about the findings of the OIR Group on the shortcomings of the Police Review Board and delays in obtaining medical help for injured individuals. You can read our testimony here.

Other Action News

LWVPDX endorsed several ballot measures that passed in the November 2018 election, including the Metro bonds to build more affordable housing, campaign finance reform for Portland City candidates and the Portland Clean Energy Fund.